Contrary to common belief (and sense) I immerse myself untill the deed is done. Yes, it makes me sooooooooooooooo incredibly tired, BUT it makes me cranky. And when I´m cranky, I´m very critical. Extremely actually. I can catch the tiniest of flaws.And that´s good for revising, I guess =)

I always take a break between final draft and revising/editing. Like a month. I need to get away from it. I can either work on something new, or or just not do anything. I feel it clears my mind and makes me better with the revisions.

I definitely need to step away. If I get to the point where my eyes are going all squonky over a manuscript, then I'm also at the point where I start editing the life out of it. Sometimes I work on something else. Other times I take a reading break and immerse myself in other peoples' words. Whatever I end up doing, I keep doing it until I can go back to the WIP with objective eyes again.

I try to get through the manuscript, or at least to a good breaking point rather than stop randomly. Then I'll set it aside and go on to smaller writing things, cleaning up Word files, writing blog posts, that sort of thing while the wip simmers. A little time away always works wonders.

I normally take MONTHS between revisions. I do one draft for two to three months then I take AT LEAST 4-5 months off. I normally do a book binge, (reading as much as I can) or I start a new project or I revise a different WIP.

I finally decided to call it quits after this final revision. It's the best I could do right now and I have two others simmering. I hope to get better at the craft as I go along. I think setting a deadline and sticking to it may help. I hope.

Initially I was all about diving into revisions, but I'm at the point right now where I'm questioning every line of dialogue, every character interaction, every story arc. So I've stepped out of that and into another story to clear my mind. Like ginger for writers :)

I take a break, and hand it over to my CP's to look at for awhile. That sounds bad, but I do the same for them. Once I have looked through theirs I can more easily find my own mistakes. If I am really glazed over (like now) I take a full on break except to do small critiques of other work and back off of my own. I have an award for you today :) even though I think you already got it, I still wanted to give it to you tooooo. have a great weekend :D

It helps me to have two or three books at a time. It also helps that I haven't attempted being published yet, because if book #2 needs edits, but I need a break, I edit book #1. By the time I finish that, I'm all fresh and starry-eyed for book #2

Immersion is the only way that works for me. For the past two years, my life has been totally erratic. My plans go awry at a moment's notice. So I've learned to plan to write every day on my WIP. Until my life returns to a somewhat more predictable routine, which I continue to hope is soon, I have no room, time, or focus to think about taking a break from it.

I don't like to take a break. I have to know things are complete before I move on to something new.However with my last MS. I did take a break. I started on something new and then went back and that's when everything just clicked.

I'm right there with you in the WIP stew! I'm usually a break taker. :) But when I reach the final fourth, the breaks stop and I kick into high gear. My mind screams, Eeh! Light! I've been in this tunnel for an eternity and now is my chance to emerge!

I really like your blog! I'm a new author and have enjoyed this new experience. I find that it's the most difficult and most rewarding. I'm also a graphic designer and love having that creative outlet as well.Thanks for your post! I will be back for more updates. :-)

I try and take a break, b/c that's about how it goes - you can't see straight and you about know it by heart. Then there's a tendency to skip over stuff...so yes, a break is what helps me. Always love your pictures!Happy weekend,Karen

I'm stubborn, so I tend to do the immersion thing until I really can't take it anymore. When I'm really stuck, I go and do something else - usually NOT writing-related so that my brain can have a rest. I find that epiphanies come when you're head is clear.

I need to take a break at that point. My brain is usually mush. It's not a good sign when I know the wip word for word. I usually read or work on something else for a few days/weeks. That helps. Good luck! :)

well since I believe writing should come naturally, and that novels should just flow right out of you like a river, I don't really believe in writing by force. Just take a break, the ideas and inspiration will come to you in the right moment.

i dig what your friend jadee morgan said, we've got to find what works for us. as an old newspaper reporter, i find serious benefit to rubbing up against deadline. or if i have the time, i like to do what stephen king does and drop a manuscript in a drawer for a month and a half.

in these times, our commitment and devotion to our art gets tested. sometimes i only push on after i give up energetically. the universe -- or my higher self -- just won't let me go. or something like that:)

Take a step back - in perspective. Take a yellow legal pad page and sketch a graph of your whole story : its arc, its three acts, its beginning contrasted to its ending {like a before and after picture}, and what inspired you to do the novel in the first place.

Take down a volume by your favorite author, thumb to the middle, and see how your author managed the middle muddles.

I have a post with pep talk by none other than Neil Gaiman for those of us hung in the middle :

The link is as a courtesy only :http://rolandyeomans.blogspot.com/2010/06/we-guess-with-our-fears.html

I'm in the middle a WIP right now; two, really -- one new one, and a revision. The one I'm revising keeps getting bumped for new projects that are shorter and easier to finish. But then, when I return to it, for some reason, the revision goes more easily for awhile. It's a long work, so I think I really need the time away from it between certain sections. But it's helpful to see all your comments and how other people handle things. Good post, and good blog.

I agree with Sharon, taking breaks is a very good thing. I love coming back to my manuscript with a fresh perspective. But with that said, there's definitely a time to dig into revisions and not quit. That time comes after the break. :)

I always go off to do something else. Sometimes another writing project or art project. Sometimes I will emerse myself in research material that has to do with my story. I do not write--just read, list to or view the material at hand.

I hope your broth is thick, the aroma inviting and not a uncooked potato to be had.

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